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Trio of former Nittany Lions to play in 2013 NFL Pro Bowl

Trio of former Nittany Lions to play in 2013 NFL Pro Bowl

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A trio of former Penn State standouts -- NaVorro Bowman, Tamba Hali and Cameron Wake -- have been selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl. Hali and Wake were named starters for the AFC.

A linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers, Bowman earns his first Pro Bowl berth. A linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs, Hali was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. A defensive end with the Miami Dolphins, Wake earns his second Pro Bowl berth in the past three seasons.

The Pro Bowl is Jan. 27, in Honolulu.

In his third season with the 49ers, Bowman was a 2011 Associated Press All-Pro selection. Bowman’s 144 tackles rank third in the NFL. He has two sacks, one interception and six pass breakups. A second-team All-American for the Nittany Lions in 2009, the 49ers selected Bowman in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Hali has 49 tackles (41 solo) with 9 sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble this season for the Chiefs. He has started all 109 games he has played with Kansas City since being selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Hali was a consensus first-year All-American at Penn State in 2005.

In his fourth season with Miami, Wake also was selected a starter for the 2011 Pro Bowl. He has 15 sacks this season to rank fourth in the NFL. Wake’s 43 sacks in his initial four seasons are the most by a Dolphins player in their initial four seasons with the franchise.

A total of 28 former Nittany Lions are with NFL teams. Penn State traditionally is among the Top 15 schools nationally in producing current NFL players.

A total of 329 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, including 36 in the first round. In the 2012 NFL Draft, Penn State had at least four players selected for the 39th time in NFL Draft history.

Penn State has had at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl team for 41 of 46 title games. Thirty-four former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 51 Super Bowl rings as players, including tackle Kareem McKenzie and defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy with the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.